A new Jamaica Plain Business and Professional Association (JP BAPA) initiative called JP Shines to keep local streets clean will kick off April 11. “We’re launching it around the Boston Shines effort,” said Kim Mitchell, owner of Boing! JP’s Toy Shop at 667 Centre St. “We hope this is a long-term initiative.” Boston Shines...
Blog Archives
Parklet site changed to Hyde Sq.
HYDE SQ.—Centre Street across from Wyman Street in Hyde Square will likely get one of the city’s first “parklets” later this year, not central JP, as previously expected. The parklet will be installed in the fall, not the spring as previously announced. A parklet is a small, semi-permanent public space that resembles a deck,...
Vacant house faces new lien
EGLESTON SQ.—A vacant house at 25 Chilcott Place is facing a new lien after going to housing court last year. The owner of the house, Jamaica Plain resident John Darling, has previously been cited by ISD for improper trash storage, overgrown weeds and for failing to secure the property, the charge that took him...
JP artist prints out Atomic Age jewelry
Jamaica Plain artist Bob Field is combining his long-time love of natural shapes and traditional art with new technologies to create and sell something that sound like they’re from out of the 23rd century: 3-D-printed earrings. Much like a traditional printer lays down layer after layer of ink on paper, a 3-D printer creates...
WIT students study JP planning
Wentworth Institute of Technology (WIT) students will be working in Jamaica Plain to develop design ideas for mixed-use projects along the Southwest Corridor this spring and summer as an academic exercise. The Community Design Studio program will analyze existing proposals for the study area, including the Jackson Square Re-development Initiative, and will make proposals...
School assignment plan approved
The Boston School Committee voted 6-1 to approve a new home-based, zone-free school choice plan March 13. The approved plan does not include walk-zone priority and will take effect in the 2014-2015 school year. The plan does away with zones and uses a child’s address as a starting point for a “basket” of six...
JP Branch upgrade added to BPL budget
A request for funds for a proposed renovation of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library (BPL) has been added to the BPL Capital Budget for the next fiscal year. That means that BPL will request the $8.5 million for the renovation from the City in its upcoming FY2014 budget. The City...
Real estate today: City wants building owners to report energy usage
A new proposed city ordinance would require owners of commercial and large residential buildings to disclose their energy usage to the City. But critics are not convinced the measure would achieve anything and will create unnecessary financial burdens for building owners. “In order for Boston to continue to be a sustainability leader, our buildings...
Real estate today: ‘Serenity’ still under BRA review
The Serenity, a proposed luxury apartment building at 105A S. Huntington Ave., is still under review by the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) until the completion of the S. Huntington Ave. corridor study. “ anticipating additional information on the project from the developer following the completion of the study,” BRA spokesperson Melina Schuler...
Real estate today: Hellenic Hill preservation efforts continue
PONDSIDE—Efforts to permanently preserve Hellenic Hill continue without results almost two years after a development controversy. Hellenic College, the owner of the undeveloped woodlands overlooking Jamaica Pond that the college has previously tried to sell or develop, is currently working on keeping the land a “sanctuary,” Emerald Necklace Conservancy (ENC) Executive Director Julie Crockford...